> The Toronto East Goan Seniors Association was formed about 10 years ago when > a few souls who saw the need for a vibrant association for the entertainment > and social benefit of older adults in the Eastern part of the city, set about > taking the initiative to form a volunteer group for this large part of the > community who resides here. > > It was a great idea. Travelling to G.O.A. functions more than 50 kms away was > becoming difficult as local residents were ageing and finding it harder to > drive in winter snowy, slushy and slippery conditions. Besides, TEGSA being a > community organization was more inclusive and in tune with its membership. > You didn't have to be a Goan to be a full member. At functions you will see > Goans, Parsis, Anglo-Indians and others from the sub-continent. > > Membership has grown to the current 600 over the years, simply because the > association has fulfilled the objectives that the founders had set out to > seek, which was to give everybody a good time. > > Seniors don't require much encouragement when they decide to have fun and > they appreciate quality when they get it. This quality to me, has been > consistently given by the succeeding committees since the founding. They have > been hard-working, selfless and loyal, giving of their free time so that > others could benefit from the fun and company of their friends while getting > opportunities to make new acquaintances. Meeting people in social settings, > specially in winter, can dispel gloom and depression. > > It was a joy at this dance to see members in their finest dress and carefree > manner. It was as if all their responsibilities were lifted from their > shoulders and they were determined to have a good time. As indeed it was an > occasion to do. Children were no longer the responsibility they once were and > an empty nest was the norm. > Health was as good as could be expected and whatever the problems tomorrow, > they were not going to keep them down today. > > The locale was ideal as well as quite classy. The Greek Metropolitan Church > had years ago, a well appointed hall erected next to their church and most of > those who came would have no more than 5 kms to drive. > > Mario Gonsalves' DJ music was tailored to having the crowd swing with gay > abandon, waltz when they needed to swirl and two-step when they needed to > hold close. The music brought back many memories and people were synching the > lyrics they had not forgotten. Who knows what different associations of > their youth those familiar songs brought to them. > > Sheilah De Souza the Social Secretary, Austin Pinto the President and DJ > Mario did a great job of sharing the emceeing which is always an essential > component of leading the crowd. There was natural and effortless coordination > and flow in the program. > > Toronto seniors age well and seeing the people on the dance floor, would have > easily transported you to carefree yesteryears at the Catholic or Bandra > Gymkhanas in Bombay or to an Anglo-Indian Railway Institute in Bhusaval or > Nagpur. > > The Banquet Hall's sit-down meal, red and white wine and service were worthy > of a Christmas function. More importantly the servers and bar tenders smiled > as happily as those they served. The coup-de-grace was the sweet trays that > were liberally placed on the individual tables. Who doesn't eat delectable > Goan sweets when you get them. And to those who were already stuffed, ziplock > food bags were given to take the treats home for later enjoyment. > > It snowed outside. It was the third snowfall within the past week, but none > of the 300 or more who came were concerned. The organizers had put them in > the Christmas mood and if they were still in Toronto for New Year's Eve, by > golly they were going to be there again. > > Viva TEGSA, and all those who make and have made such functions possible. > TEGSA's sister organization in the West End of the city and Mississauga, the > 55 Plus Goan Association has equally well organized Christmas and New Year > functions.
> Older adults in Toronto and area are lucky to have all this entertainment > served to them on a silver platter. > Roland Francis > Toronto. >
